Moon’s Labyrinths - Chapter 304

 

Almost everyone knew the Moon had stopped drifting away from Earth . Some had been worried that it might move toward Earth on a collision course . No, most people were worried about that possibility .

 

However, when the possibility turned into reality, everyone felt the immense pressure of that information .

 

“When is the estimated collision time?”

 

Sungyoon asked the question as he let out a brief sigh . He had experienced all kinds of hardship in the past, so he was the first one to calm down .

 

“It’ll happen after several hundred years . ”

 

“That’s good news for now . ”

 

Someone spoke up .

 

The danger wasn’t imminent, and many of them relaxed a little bit . With so much time left, they were pretty sure humanity could come up with a solution . However, Sungyoon and the more forward-thinking people couldn’t relax .

 

“It’ll be fine for the near future, but Kevil is conducting rituals that are influencing the Moon’s movements . If Kevil continues to conduct these rituals, there is a possibility that the Moon’s approaching velocity would be accelerated . ”

 

The expression of the relaxed people stiffened again .

 

Bruce clicked his tongue .

 

“That means we have to stop Kevil at all costs . ”

 

“That’s difficult . The bastard is very stealthy in its actions . ”

 

“Shit!”

 

In the end, Bruce took out another cigarette from his cigarette case . He spoke as he placed the cigarette between his lips .

 

“I’ve talked it over with Ms . Plu-El . ”

 

The Mayor interrupted them .

 

“The current situation continues to deteriorate . Armstrong city has fallen, and our supply chain of moonstones has been severed . The monsters continue to attack the Earth as the Moon moves closer . Moreover, many Connectors are starting to feel the urge to get back to the Moon . Isn’t that right?”

 

Most of the Connectors in the room nodded . Sungyoon was also going through some difficulties in recent days . The urge to return to the Moon had started to creep up in his heart .

 

“Ah! I have a question . What causes this?”

 

Bruce rubbed his hand over his heart as he asked the question . He thought Plu-El would have the answer since she was one of the Moon people .

 

“This attraction isn’t due to the Moon itself . Instead, you are being drawn toward the magical energy on the Moon . ”

 

“Magical energy causes this?”

 

Bruce asked her again . The other Connectors became interested in the topic too as the matter was directly related to them .

 

“Connectors are sensitive to magical energy . It’s to be expected since their hearts constantly provide them with magical energy . Therefore, they are drawn to places with massive amounts of magical energy . The nearest and the only source of magical energy is the Moon . Of course, the Connectors are drawn to the Moon . ”

 

“Does that mean we will no longer feel the urge if the amount of magical energy on Earth increases by a lot?”

 

In the past, Plu-El had explained that the consumption of moonstones through technology had started to increase the ambient magical energy on Earth .

 

“That’s correct . If the amount of magical energy on Earth exceeds the magical energy on the Moon, the Connectors would want to stay on Earth . ”

 

“That’ll only happen after a long time has passed . ”

 

“It also might accelerate the timeline of the Moon colliding with Earth . ”

 

Bruce lamented .

 

“Ah! I interrupted you . Please continue your explanation . ”

 

After Bruce spoke, the Mayor cleared his throat once again .

 

“Everyone here knows about Hyunwoo Sung . He visited the Knight not too long ago . ”

 

All of the Connectors in the room looked at Sungyoon for a moment .

 

“Wait a moment . I heard he claimed he knew how to defeat Grenoid . Don’t tell me you’re about to give credence to his words?”

 

Bruce sounded baffled .

 

The others also spoke in loud voices . They were having a hard time on the prospect of believing the words of a traitor who had betrayed humanity .

 

“I understand your worries . Ms . Plu-El and I feel the same way . However, we have no other way to get out of this . If we don’t do something now, there’s a possibility that we can only watch the Moon collide with Earth in the end . ”

 

“Shit! I hate traveling down a road paved by someone else . ”

 

He especially hated walking on a road paved by a criminal . Bruce took a deep drag of the cigarette and reduced the cigarette to half of its size in one go . He once again flicked the cigarette into the ashtray .

 

“Hey, Knight . ”

 

“What is it?”

 

“What did you feel when you saw him? Did you feel his words had credibility?”

 

“Are you asking if I played into his hands?”

 

“If that’s the standard, everyone on Earth has played into his hands . I just want you to speak about what you felt at that moment . No one will fault you for whatever you say . I’ll snap the neck of anyone who thinks otherwise . ”

 

Sungyoon closed his eyes and tried to recall his state of mind during his conversation with Hyunwoo .

 

“My opponent was Sung Hyunwoo . Moreover, my wife was with me, so I was very nervous . I don’t remember the exact feeling I felt at that moment . The only thing I can say is that he’s cooperating with Grenoid, but he also has his own agenda . ”

 

“I see . ”

 

Bruce looked at the Mayor once again .

 

“Are you sure that’s the only thing we can try?”

 

“If you have another plan, I’m willing to listen . ”

 

“I suck at using my head . You should ask Russell . ”

 

Bruce let out a long sigh as he got up .

 

“It can’t be helped . We have to dance to the tune of his beat . ”

 

Bruce then pointed at Sungyoon and continued .

 

“I’m guessing he’s going to go too?”

 

“He delivered those words to me . Of course, I have to go . ”

 

***

 

“It’s going smoothly . ”

 

The holographic screen in the air showed the cross-sectional diagram of the building . Most of the rooms were colored red, and some were blue .

 

“Soon, Son-in-law Woo will be able to open a portal between Earth and the Moon . ”

 

Plu-El sounded a bit awkward when calling him son-in-law .

 

Sungyoon looked over the holographic screen .

 

“Only thirty percent of it has activated . ”

 

“According to the stories passed down to us, you’re activating the Gem very quickly . Please don’t get impatient . ”

 

Sungyoon looked down at the Royal Gem .

 

“I heard Mother-in-law and the other descendants of Planote will be participating in this mission . ”

 

“Yes . In the end, Grenoid is our enemy too . Moreover, we have decided to settle on Earth, so we have to protect our home . ”

 

The two of them exited the room, and Sungyoon opened a portal to the holy city . The Royal Gem could open portals to all three cities, but the other three special Gems couldn’t open a portal to the capital .

 

When they arrived at the holy city, they saw a lot of Connectors moving about . They were the Connectors that would be sent on this mission .

 

Realizing Sungyoon had returned, his party members gathered around him .

 

“How’s progress?”

 

Grace asked .

 

“Slow, but all the functions are coming online . I’ll be able to open a portal to Earth soon . ”

 

“That’s good news . ”

 

They would gain another portal that would allow them to travel to the Moon, and it would increase the variety of plans that could be formed .

 

The Mayor looked excited at the possibility .

 

“You’re back . ”

 

He approached the group when he caught sight of Sungyoon .

 

“It’s time for the last briefing . Let’s hurry up and go . ”

 

The mission was finally close at hand . The party was a bit anxious as they followed the Mayor .

 

***

 

The biggest room inside one of the intact buildings had been chosen as the briefing room .

 

Unlike the labyrinths, the city’s magical energy was stable; electronic devices could be used here . Therefore, a large projector had been installed in the room .

 

“This is the Great Labyrinth where you’ll be inserted into . ”

 

The projector showed a large cave on the surface of the Moon . It was located halfway up a small rocky mountain . This was the place where their mission would play out .

 

“Since magical energy suppressors don’t work inside Mana Stream, we couldn’t get a shot of the interior . However, we sent a small advanced party inside, and I was told the place was no different from the other Great Labyrinths . ”

 

The screen moved onto the next slide . It wasn’t a photo, but a drawing .

 

“It was made through the testimony given by the advanced party . They searched until the third floor . Like all the other Great Labyrinths, each floor has a different environment . However, there’s a difference . Unlike the other Great Labyrinths, there’s only one tunnel . ”

 

“That means we don’t have to worry about getting lost . ”

 

Russell carefully looked over the screen .

 

“That’s right . If there were multiple tunnels, we wouldn’t be able to search through all of them with time being of the essence . However, this is only true until the third floor . I have no idea what the deeper floors are like . It wouldn’t be shocking to see multiple paths on the lower floors . After all, it’s a Great Labyrinth at the end of the day . ”

 

The Mayor’s face hardened as he swung his pointing stick .

 

“As you all probably know, we do not have a lot of time . We’ve gathered the strongest Connectors of Earth for this mission . If the casualties on Earth become severe, all the countries would request you to return to your respective countries . ”

 

“Now that you mention it, what’s going to happen to the monsters on Earth?”

 

A Connector sitting near Bruce asked the question .

 

Everyone became tense when that question was brought up .

 

This was proof of the power and influence wielded by the Mayor . He could gather all these Connectors . The downside was that his actions would significantly reduce Earth’s defense .

 

“Since we are desperate, we’ll use the Mana Knight weapons to kill them . ”

 

“Can you produce enough of them?”

 

“We were ramping up our manufacturing capabilities of Mana Knight weapons before Armstrong city fell . We felt threatened with the fall of Gagarin·Yang city . Yet, despite having more of these weapons, we couldn’t prevent the downfall of Armstrong city . ”

 

The Mayor frowned . The incident had left a bitter taste in his mouth .

 

“However, I would be lying if I said we had adequate supply . We barely have enough to arm everyone . Above all else, we are extremely short on Mana Knight ammunition . Mana Knight is a metal that can only be found inside the labyrinths . We lost our territory on the Moon, and as the monsters attack Earth, our supply of Mana Knight will be consumed very fast . We have to find a solution as soon as possible . We need to revive Armstrong city . ”

 

“What will we do if we fail in this mission?”

 

Someone spat out those foreboding words . Everyone wanted to know the answer .

 

The Mayor’s nose twitched .

 

“We’ll have to use every method available to us and recapture Armstrong city . ”

 

“What if that fails too?”

 

“You have a choice to make at that point . You can choose to stay by your family’s side, or you can choose to partake in all kinds of pleasure and debauchery until the end comes . You are free to do whatever you desire until death comes . ”

 

The Mayor’s heavy words passed by their ears .

 

***

 

Sungyoon assembled with his party members . All four of them had been busy on Earth, so it had been a while since the party had gathered like this . Plu-El and her party also assembled next to Sungyoon’s party .

 

“Please take this, Ms . Emily . ”

 

“What are these?”

 

Sungyoon placed several Gems in Emily’s hand .

 

“These are the Gems I acquired when I killed a traitor last time . I believe you’ll find a better use for them . ”

 

Emily equipped the Gems on her Device to check their abilities . Soon, a satisfied expression appeared on her face .

 

“These are good Gems . Are you sure you want to give them to me?”

 

“We have to increase our fighting power in any way possible . Please do not hesitate to take them . ”

 

“Then, I’ll borrow them for a short time . ”

 

Instead of her normal staff, Emily held the mace Sungyoon gave to her .

 

Most of the parties were getting ready for battle . Sungyoon and his party also discussed the upcoming battle with Plu-El .

 

At that moment, someone approached Sungyoon .

 

“May I speak to you for a brief moment?”

 

It was Aruwen .